🌌 Astro-Tourism in Madhya Pradesh

The journey of Astro-Tourism in Madhya Pradesh has been shaped through a continuous collaboration between StarGazing India and the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB), beginning in 2021 with a pilot project at Pachmarhi. The objective was to explore the potential of astronomy as a new and immersive tourism experience while creating opportunities for visitors to connect with the night sky in a scientifically meaningful way.

The successful implementation of the Pachmarhi pilot and the encouraging response from visitors and stakeholders provided a strong foundation for taking the concept further. Based on this experience, the Astro-Tourism initiative was subsequently extended to additional locations, including Chhedka, Dobha and Tala, Khajuraho. These projects helped demonstrate that astronomy can become an important component of experiential tourism, particularly when it is combined with the natural, cultural and rural character of a destination.

The positive outcomes of these initial initiatives encouraged the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board to plan the development of 15 additional Astro Villages, with dedicated astronomy infrastructure and improved equipment facilities. The vision gradually evolved from conducting individual stargazing activities to creating a wider network of professionally developed destinations where visitors can experience the night sky alongside the local landscape, culture and community.

A crucial part of this expansion is the development of local human resources. An Astro Village requires more than telescopes and observation infrastructure—it requires trained people who can operate the equipment, understand the night sky, communicate astronomy effectively and create a safe, engaging and memorable experience for visitors.

With this objective, a new Astro Guide Training Programme has been initiated across six additional villages in Madhya Pradesh. The programme focuses on developing local youth into capable Astro-Tourism professionals who can become the bridge between visitors and the Universe, while also contributing to the long-term development of their own communities.

As part of this phase, StarGazing India is conducting the training programme at four villages:

• Bancha – Betul District
• Dhaba – Narmadapuram District
• Dhusawani – Chhindwara District
• Ranchha – Umaria District

The training programme at two additional identified villages is being conducted by Ankur Hobby Center:

• Gyanpura – Dhar District
• Richhkudi – Damoh District

Together, these six villages represent another important step in the evolution of Madhya Pradesh's Astro-Tourism journey. The focus is no longer limited to introducing visitors to astronomy; it is also about building local expertise, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and establishing a consistent standard of visitor experience across emerging Astro Villages.

The Astro Guide development programme follows a three-year engagement, within which participants undergo 90 days of structured active training, divided into 60 + 15 + 15 days. The remaining period is supported through passive monitoring, field-level guidance and quality assessment under the Astro Village operational framework. This ensures that learning continues through real visitor interactions and that the quality of astronomy experiences remains consistent throughout the project period.

Ultimately, the vision is to create a community-driven network of Astro Villages where astronomy becomes an integral part of rural and experiential tourism—bringing together the night sky, science, nature, culture and local communities.

From the first pilot at Pachmarhi in 2021 to the development of a wider Astro Village ecosystem, this journey reflects a shared vision of making Madhya Pradesh a destination where visitors can not only explore the land, but also look upward and discover the Universe above it.